Iris, Bearded ‘Monaco’

Lush and exotic as its name implies, Bearded Iris, ‘Monaco’ is a striking lavender with a hint of beige where standards and ruffled falls meet. Bearded Iris make wonderful cut flowers, lasting a week or more. They are well suited for meadows, woodland gardens and borders.

Bearded Iris: Iris germanica, is a hardy, long-lived perennial that require a minimum of maintenance. The flowers have six petals, three upright petals (called standards) and three hanging petals (called falls). A fuzzy line or beard runs down the middle of each fall. Flowers come in many colors including blue, pink, purple, reddish, white, yellow, and bi-colors. Most bearded iris flower in the spring (April to June depending on cultivar), but some of the new cultivars re-flower in the summer and fall. The second flower display is not as showy as the spring display but last into the fall. Many re-blooming iris are fragrant. Iris have thick, fleshy, underground stems (called rhizomes) that store food produced by the sword-shaped, semi-evergreen leaves. The rhizomes grow best when planted at or slightly below the soil surface with feeder roots penetrating the soil below. Each year underground offsets develop from the original rhizome. Buds produce a large fan of leaves and several flower stalks. Success with iris depends on keeping the rhizomes firm and healthy. In general, this is done by providing the rhizome good drainage while the feeder roots below remain moist but not wet.

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IB131

Iris, Bearded 'Monaco'

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Plant Details +

Bulb Type

Rhizome

Size

#1

Height

34"

Spacing

5"

Hardiness

Zones 3-10

Exposure

Full Sun

Foliage

Green

Flower

Lavender with Beige

Bloomtime

Mid-Late

General Information +

Tip: Before flowering, water plants often enough to keep the soil moist but not wet. Reblooming iris should be watered during the summer, while spring-flowering iris will tolerate drought. After flowers fade, cut flower stalks back to an inch or two above the rhizome to prevent seed formation. Fertilization of iris is important to obtain best results, but must be done in moderation. Plants that are growing well (good green foliage) may not need fertilizing. If you fertilize, apply 1/2 cup of 5-10-10 fertilizer per iris clump after flowering. Fertilizer can burn the rhizomes; it should be applied around but not directly on them. Reblooming iris should be fertilized in the spring as new growth begins and after spring flowering ends. Iris respond to shallow (1 to 2 inches) cultivation and should not be mulched. In early fall, cut leaves 6 to 8 inches from the ground, especially if foliage disease occur.
After 3 to 5 years, iris generally become crowded and should be divided. Iris can be divided any time, but many growers prefer to divide 4 to 6 weeks after the flowering period. Cut the leaves to one-third their length. Dig the clump and wash soil off with a hose. Cut rhizomes apart so that each section has at least one healthy fan of leaves and firm, white roots. Older rhizomes may seem firm but should be discarded since they have limited flowering capacity.

Planting/Care Instructions +

Easy to Grow: 1. Dig a hole 2 inches deep.
2. Set the rhizome firmly in place, with the roots facing downward.
3. Cover the rhizome with soil and water thoroughly.

Planting Instructions: Plant Bearded Iris in well-drained soil, in a sunny location about 5" apart, with the bottom of the rhizome about 2" deep: the top should be just covered with soil. Water thoroughly after planting. The best time to plant bearded iris is in the early fall. This will allow them to become well established before winter. Container-grown iris can be planted in the spring.
Site selection and preparation—A full sun exposure is preferred; however, some of the delicate pink and blue iris hold their color better in partial shade. Excessive shade will reduce or prevent flowering. Good soil drainage is essential to prevent rhizomes from rotting. It may be necessary to plant the rhizomes in raised beds (at least 6 inches high) to obtain proper drainage.

When to Plant Outdoors: Product should be planted immediately after received in the fall. In extremely warm climates, plant when the ground cools. You may plant earlier or later as long as the ground is not too warm or frozen.